Walter Payton

"Greatest Football Player Ever" - Mike Ditka

"Greatest Person To Ever Play Football" - BearFanatic34



Walter Payton, 1954-1999
NFL running back, Hall of Famer, and philanthropist Walter Payton, known to fans and football teammates as "Sweetness" for his good nature, died November 1st 1999 after a brief but intense struggle with cancer. Payton, holder of many NFL and NCAA records, was 45 years old.
Born July 25th 1954 in the town of Columbia, Mississippi, Walter Payton was known for defying the usual rules of his game. Smaller than most running backs at 5'10" and an average weight around 200 lbs., Payton's speed, determination, and tenacity made him a standout in college football as well as his later career in the NFL. Payton set an NCAA record of 464 career points during his years playing college football for Jackson State, with 46 points scored in one game. Payton brought attention to the previously overlooked school, and the 2-time Little All-American and Heisman Trophy contender led pro-ball scouts to revise their recruiting practices to include smaller colleges. In 1975, Payton emerged a first round NFL draft choice, and was signed to the Chicago Bears.
Payton spent 13 seasons with Chicago, including 6 under Coach Mike Ditka. Of those 13 seasons, Payton missed only 1 pro-ball game, in his freshman year with the team, due to injury. Payton set an unchallenged NFL record of 16,726 rushing yards during his career, and a record 275 yards in a single game (Chicago vs. Minnesota in 1977). Payton was a 7-time All Pro, was voted to 9 Pro Bowls, and was recognized as a key element in the Bears' first (and to date only) Super Bowl win in 1985, rushing for 1,551 yards and 9 TDs. When Payton retired from professional football in 1987, Chicago simultaneously retired his number, 34. Payton later joined the Bears Board of Directors, and was a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary Team. When Payton was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, he requested that his son, Jarrett, then 12 years old, be his presenter for his induction.
Those who did not necessarily follow football still recognized Walter Payton, the man the NFL knew as "Sweetness" and a notorious practical joker. Payton graced General Mills' "Wheaties" cereal boxes 9 times, and was an active and avid public speaker. In 1989 Payton had founded the George Halas/Walter Payton Foundation (renamed The Walter Payton Foundation in 1998 after Halas death) to provide financial and motivational assistance for children. Payton devoted much of his time and energy to the charity, which, among other activities, provides Christmas gifts to children who are Wards of the State in Illinois. The Foundation established scholarships for social work, and joined with Illinois efforts to create The Alliance for the Children.
Payton additionally headed Payton Enterprises, which operates a chain of Chicago area restaurants, and was an avid fan of his son Jarrett's football career with the University of Miami. The NFL record holder had been active as a motivational speaker. In February, 1999 Payton shocked the American public with the announcement that he was suffering from a rare liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (or PSC) and was in need of a liver transplant. Payton and his family had deliberated over making the announcement, and agreed that his personal crisis might help raise awareness of the desperate need for organ donors. While on the Mayo Clinic transplant waiting list, Payton's condition deteriorated rapidly, developing into a cancerous condition, which spread to his bile ducts and made surgery or transplant impossible. Nine months after the announcement of his illness, Walter Payton died.
Walter Payton is survived by his wife, Connie, his son, Jarrett, and daughter Brittney. Memorial donations maybe directed to The Walter Payton Foundation for Children. Payton, anticipating the terminal aspect of his illness, completed the inspirational autobiography, "Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton".





If you are not yet an Organ Donor, please become one. It won't hurt, I promise.

American Legends issued the white Sweetness bear in a limited quantity of 2,000. Here are a few other of my collectibles of Walter Payton. I am sure I will add more to this section later, for I have numerous things. As far as I know, there aren't too many Payton Bobblehead Dolls but the 2 that I have are still readily available in the market "for sale"...reasonable pricing, as well. I'm showing the 5" 1992 Sports Impressions figure made of porcelain and the resin Danbury Mint figurine. The SI is hard to come by and there are actually 2 versions with limited production numbers. The Danbury figure, however, is can easily be purchased for around $70. The following information pertains to the bust, quoted from it's recent description on ebay:

This bust is from a limited edition (1,000) series of bronzite statues created by Brad Lorang. The statuette measures approximately 7 1/2" tall including the 3 1/2" square base with a numbered name-plate and a Certificate of Authenticty on the bottom of the base.

This 24kt gold card was made by the Danbury Mint, nicely encapsulated and depicts the career highlites of the greatest back ever...



Here's a 1980 Topps oversized boxtopper card...oversized cards were inserted when dealers/collectors purchased trading cards by the box, and not the pack...


Below is one of my shelves that I enjoy looking at, even though it's somewhat cluttered...just little trinkets about Walter....there's an Old Style Beer can, a drinking glass showing Payton's NFL record and piece of Soldier Field artificial turf that was given away by Shell in 1988...there are the figyrines and collector plates by Sports Impressions....that circular disk is a 1976 Crane Potato chip card (Payton's Rookie year), the Winning in Life video, matchbook cover from his restaurant...and the letter caches with postmarks - the one visible is a 1987 postmark when Payton broke Jim Brown's rushing record....just a cool little shelf..

Ertl - Goal Line Classics

The thing about collecting is that every piece that you acquire comes with a story. That's what makes it amazing, that plus I actually remember where most of my things come from. Well, maybe I used to, but my collection is growing so fast I had to start this blog to document it. I hadn't really started collecting Bears items seriously, just a few key chains here and there, and maybe a few odds and ends. Anyway, I volunteer to take my Mother-In-Law to The Quad Cities Airport which is about an hour from here. We arrive and are awaiting her departure when I wander into the Gift Shop. There on 1/2 off closeout was this metal Chicago Bears Truck made by a company called Ertl. Well, of course I bought it because it was pretty cool looking. Next thing you know I am home researching Ertl and discover that this truck was known as a 1:24 scale die cast Goal Line Classic coin bank (I failed to realize that it was a bank). The date on the truck was 1993, and it was 1st in a series.

To make a long story short, now I had become addicted and determined to get these Goal Line Classics every year. It was difficult at first, for my area never really had good distributors for NFL stuff, and Ebay was not yet born.

Ertl manufactured these banks in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. 1995 and 1996 were hard to come by. 1996 was a nice blue 1957 Chevy, which I acquired from a middle man online. He found the darn thing for me and shipped it to me at no profit. I tipped him $10.00 anyway...



I didn't even know there was a 1995 model. Ertl also made a Helmet Bank that year, so I bought that and assumed it was part of the series. Later on, however, I found the next truck at a Flea Market and the lady woud NOT budge on her price (I even let her sleep on it...LOL) It's a cool panel delivery van:

Wheaties

I have several Walter Payton Wheaties boxes in my collection...Most are still filled with the original cereal. I don't know if that is a bad idea or not. I guess it is okay if you keep 'em dry and rodent free.

There have only been eight spokespersons that have represented Wheaties, one of which was Walter Payton. There have been numerous individuals who have had their images garnished on the box covers, yet were not official spokespersons. Walter Payton was chosen to represent Wheaties from 1986 thru 1988. He was chosen based on his ideals of giving back to the communities, specifically children. Walter and his wife started The Walter Payton Foundation in 1988 to represent that cause. It is still operating today.

Walter Payton was the FIRST NFL player ever to be on a Wheaties box and was imaged there 9 times. Michael Jordan has the record, something like different 18 boxes....Tiger Woods may take that lead someday.

This is his first box 1n 1986....There were several variations of the banner, like "Free Bread", "Free Photo", "NFL Film Offer", "Instant Winner" ...The one I own says " Ski Vacation"

Also in 1986 there was a Commemorative release with a large up close and personal picture of Walter on the back.




Wheaties boxes come in many different sizes, but mostly 12, 18 and 24 ounces, so Walters pictures were on all of those, as well as a "purple" Crispie Wheaties 'n Raisin box that I own, but do not have a picture of. There is a link to ALL of the box covers and I will try and post that. The Walter Paytons were Series #s 24,25,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,4B, 41A,39C and S94....I am assuming each series represents a "size" or the fact that many boxes are only issued "regionally", as opposed to "nationally".

Here is 1994 cover celebrating 75 years of the NFL....notice Butkus is on there, as well. I also have the 1999 box representing 75 years of Wheaties and Walter Payton is on there.


Famous artist Leroy Neiman did a 1997 cover of Walter


This issue was released in 2000 following Payton's death: "A Tribute to Sweetness"

The flat box at the top is from 1998 and for the 75th anniversary of Wheaties they issued a "top ten" retro type box....I have a miniature version....

Zippo Lighters

Hey, if things are made in a collectible series, and they say "Chicago Bears" on them....guess what? I'll probably collect them. Zippo sellers don't budge very much, though. It's always $20-$30 for one. That means that they will maintain their value, anyway. I hope. Here are my Zippo's:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Trying to keep up with the die cast business has been tough. I would guess that I have about 5-10 issues missing from my collection (that I know about). The NFL changes "approved" manufacturers of certain products every few of years....Ertl made the 1:24 cars (banks) from 1993 to 2000. In 2000, White Rose Collectibles stepped in and made a panel van and in 2001 through 2005, Fleer was back in the picture. Fleer made a LOT of stuff in a few short years and ended up going bankrupt in May of 2005....Guess who bought their Die Cast business? Well, it's Upper Deck, so who knows what's in store for 2006



Here are some pictures of what I own...I also have more that I don't yet have photos of. I took a bunch of pictures over the weekend and I will scan them in as soon as I get the film developed.

Where do I begin? How about the smaller stuff. here's a collection within a collection of Fleer 1:64 (approx)when they made small vehicles and provided an "Ultra" trading card to go with it. It started in 1999 with Curtis Enis and continued in 2001 (Yukon), 2002 (PT Cruiser), 2003 (Mustang Convertible) and 2004 (Cadillac escalade) with Brian Urlacher cards.



Mantua Train box car 1992 (first series):

Ertl bi-plane coin bank (late 90s):

2003 P-51 Airplane by Fleer:

2003 B52 Stealth Bomber by Fleer:

2004 P-47 by Fleer:

2002 Monster Truck - Fleer:

Here's a 2003 Sideline car..most come with a blue chassis. I own a rare "orange" chassis version with a limited production of only 232:

In 2003 Fleer Collectibles started a 1st in a series of Muscle Cars (I am still missing that car, but I'll get it, don't worry..Series 2 and 3 were a stingray corvette and a cobra (those I have):

Like I mentioned earlier. White Rose Collectibles made the 2000 NFL issue. It's now pictured on the bottom right of my "pyramid" of cars below. It's a panel delivery truck. Fleer took over again in 2001 and 2002 and made a Thunderbird and a Cadillac Escapade 1:24:


They also produced a 1955 Chevy Pickup and a 1940 Ford in 2003 and 2004. there is a 2005 model, but I don't have that yet, either: